Saturday, January 28, 2006

Rotary Club help appreciated
On behalf of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition/Homeless Program, I would like to give a huge thank you to Soldotna Rotary Club members for assisting families during the holiday season through your Empty Stocking Fund. It was absolutely wonderful.

Seaton should be applauded for bill to protect salmon
Prior to the industrial revolution, the streams and rivers of two continents, from Portugal and California in the south to arctic Europe and America, were the pristine nurseries of countless millions of salmon. As the forests were logged and factories replaced them, salmon in southwestern Europe began to disappear from their natal streams. Spawning streams retreated northward in Europe until salmon nearly vanished from that continent.

Ski meet raced on without a hitch thanks to help
The Kenai Crosscountry Ski Team would like to thank Renee Merkes, John Lillevik, Pat Johnson, John Harro and several others of the volunteer timing team for the Arctic Winter Games for their help with the Kenai Klassic race at Tsalteshi Trails. Also, thanks to Bill Holt, Alan Boraas, Tom Seggerman and Dan Skipwith. Without your unselfish dedication and expertise, events like our ski race would not happen or be as much fun for all involved. With people like you in the critical positions, the Arctic Winter Games are sure to be enjoyed by all.

Bridge work stops cold
River ice has brought to a grinding halt the labor of burly iron workers and their huge crane and hydraulic hammers aimed at building the new span across the Kenai River in Soldotna.

Photo feature: Vapor trail
Shoppers leave vapor trails in the cold as they walk to their vehicle at Home Depot in Kenai on Thursday afternoon.

Jury: Hester not guilty
A Kenai jury on Thursday found Betsy M. Hester not guilty of murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend, a shooting that occurred more than two years ago in the mobile home they lived in together in Kasilof.

Margaret Ann Riley-Brewer
Margaret Ann Riley-Brewer of Clovis, N.M., died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, at her home after a long illness. She was 66.

Games come but once in 10 years, make the most of it
By nature, living on the Kenai Peninsula has many perks. It’s the small-town feel with the big city close enough to visit, but far enough to keep us rural. There’s a variety of ways to live  from wide open spaces to having a neighbor right next door. There are businesses to provide what we need  food, clothes, gasoline and utilities. There are plenty of things to keep us busy, at work and at play. And we’re a pretty generous lot.

Invasive plants lack natural enemies to curb growth
I usually make a trip to Naples, Fla., a couple of times a year to visit my father. In the 30 years I have been making these pilgrimages to south Florida, I have watched the human population marching across the countryside with endless residential golf course subdivisions and shopping malls.

Around the Peninsula
T-200 ceremonial start canceledTeen night planned in NikiskiCISB to hold electionsHistorical society to meetKids craft fair setSeniors cooking up buffetStepfamily issues to be discussedParenting class setShowin off kids applications available

Wrestlers face tough task at NLC tourney
How’s this for tough: Heading into this weekend’s Northern Lights Conference wrestling championships, 44 percent of the state’s top five wrestlers in each weight class compete in the NLC.

Soldotna topples Skyview
As the Skyview High School hockey team celebrated senior Thursday at the Soldotna Sports Center, one of the fondest memories recounted by Skyview players was beating Soldotna during the 2003-04 season, when Skyview’s current seniors were sophomores.

Love, fellowship share common faith
Baha’u’llah said, “Consort with all religions with amity and concord ... that the fundamental purpose animating the faith of God and his religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity.”